Dan Modlin

The Green River Regional Educational Cooperative has won a 40 million dollar grant in "Race to the Top" competition. The Cooperative is one of 16 winners in the latest rounds of grants, which were announced by U-S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Duncan says the funding will help to address the educational needs of youngsters in 22 districts in southern and central Kentucky. More than 60 percent of the students in those districts are from low-income families.

This is the first time the U-S Department of Education has offered "Race to the Top" funds to districts.

The discussions relating to the so-called "Fiscal Cliff" in Washington have included a number of proposals about ways to raise tax revenue. One suggestion that is drawing concern among some charities would reduce the tax deduction for wealthy Americans to donate money to charitable organizations.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington has denied the government's request to rehear a challenge to a controversial tobacco packaging requirement. Tobacco companies have challenged the requirement that they must post large, graphic health warnings on cigarette packages.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment after the ruling. The government now has a 90 day period to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.  In August of this year, a three-judge panel had affirmed a lower court ruling that blocked the Food and Drug Administration requirement.

Farmers growing burley tobacco in Kentucky and Tennessee are receiving some of the best crop prices they've seen since 2004. That's the last year the crop was sold under production and price controls established by the federal government.

A University of Louisville student accused of shining a laser pointer at a police helicopter is learning that authorities take the matter seriously. Louisville police say 19-year-old Jeffry Ledington is charged with two wanton endangerment counts.